Emergency Policies and Procedures and Campus Safety

Inclement Weather Policy

The decision to close the college or delay the opening during inclement weather or other emergencies is the responsibility of the President or his/her designated representative.

Announcements concerning college operation are made by 6:30 a.m. on the following radio and television stations for all-day classes. Closing or delaying of day classes does not automatically affect the close of evening classes. Announcements concerning evening classes, if different from day classes are made on radio and television stations no later than 4:00 p.m.

A message regarding closings for both employees and students is placed on the college telephone message system by 6:30 a.m. and on the College’s website.

Students, especially those coming in from outlying areas, should exercise personal judgment concerning highway conditions regardless of college announcements.

For the inclement weather policy specific to health sciences students assigned to a clinical site, these students should call the college phone number and press “4” for clinical instructions.

Actions that may be taken by the college include the following:

College Closed - In case of extremely severe weather or disaster, when roads are impassable or extremely dangerous, the college may be closed. Closing means that students need not report on the specified day(s).  College Delay - Classes and/or the time employees and students report may be delayed.

When classes are canceled due to the closing of the college, make-up days may be added at the end of the term to ensure that students receive the full hours of instructional time required for each course.

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Communicable Disease Policy

Students or employees who may or will become infected with a communicable disease may not automatically be excluded from enrollment or employment. Individuals may have access restricted to college services or facilities, unless it is deemed medically necessary to protect other members of the college community, or as required by law. The communicable disease policy applies to all employees, employees of contractors or contracted services, and students of Edgecombe Community College (ECC).

Definitions

1. A communicable disease means “an illness due to an infectious agent or its toxic products which is transmitted directly or indirectly to a person from an infected person or animal through the agency of an intermediate animal, host, or vector, or through the inanimate environment” (NC GS 130A-2 (1c)). Communicable diseases include, but are not limited to chickenpox, hepatitis, measles, meningitis, mononucleosis, whooping cough, COVID-19, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
2. An employee is a person permitted to work for a specified purpose in the interest of ECC and over whose work activities the college exercises direct control. For the purpose of the Communicable Disease Policy and its procedures, a case involving an intern, volunteer, or other non-regular workers shall be handled as in the case of an employee. This policy also applies to employees of contractors or contracted services.
3. A student is any officially enrolled and matriculated person in a curriculum or continuing education course(s) at ECC during the semester in which the communicable disease is reported, or at other relevant times.

Procedures

A person who knows, or has a reasonable basis for believing, that he or she is infected with or has been exposed to a communicable disease has an ethical and legal obligation to conduct him or herself in accordance with such knowledge to protect him or herself and others. In this respect, faculty and staff are required to report this information to the director of human resources; students are required to report this information to the vice president of student services. All information is kept confidential. Only persons with a medical or legal need to know are informed and only with the prior direct knowledge of the employee or student.

Employee

1. If an employee reports having or being exposed to a communicable disease to the director of human resources, the employee may be excluded from the workplace until an appropriate evaluation of the employee’s medical condition can be made. The evaluation is to be made by a physician and/or health department official, and testing may be required if appropriate.
2. The assessment of an employee with a suspected communicable disease and the final determination of that employee’s ability to remain on the job will be made by the president.
3. If an employee is found to have a communicable disease, then the president will prohibit the attendance of the employee on campus or at any college activity until a satisfactory letter or certificate is obtained from one or more licensed physicians or public health officials stating that the attendance of the employee is not a health risk to other employees and students at the college.

Student

1. A student having or being exposed to a communicable disease is required to report this information to the vice president of student services. If a student reports this information to a college official (such as a counselor, advisor, instructor, dean, or staff member), that college official must notify the vice president of student services. The student may be excluded from the institution until an appropriate evaluation of the student’s medical condition can be made. The evaluation is made by a physician and/or health department official, and testing may be required if appropriate.
2. The assessment of a student with a suspected communicable disease and the final determination of that student’s ability to attend the school in person is made by the vice president of student services.
3. If a student is found to have a communicable disease, the vice president of student services prohibits the attendance of the student on campus or at any college activity until a satisfactory letter or certificate is obtained from one or more licensed physicians or public health officials stating that the student is not a health risk to employees and other students at the college. The college is not liable for any cost associated with doctor’s visits.

The employee of a Contractor or Contracted Service

1. If an employee of a contractor or contracted service reports having or being exposed to a communicable disease condition to his or her supervisor, or to an official of the college, the employee may be excluded from the workplace until an appropriate evaluation of the employee’s medical condition can be made.
2. The assessment of a contractor or a contracted service employee with suspected communicable disease, and the final determination of that person’s ability to remain on the job, is made by the vice president of administrative services.

Communicable Disease Education

The college is committed to providing resources to ensure the safety and well-being of its students, staff, and faculty. We want to convey basic information in various ways to include the distribution of printed material, posters, electronic formats, meetings, and speakers.

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Campus Security Policies

In accordance with Title II, Public Law 101-542 and GS 74G, the ECC Board of Trustees has adopted the following policy:

ECC provides adequate security personnel and procedures to protect the safety of its students, faculty, and staff and to ensure the security of the college’s assets. It is the responsibility of all college employees and students to report crimes whenever they become aware of them. While on college property, all persons are expected and required to obey all federal, state, and local laws and ordinances, as well as college policies governing appropriate conduct. Persons who violate this policy are subject to legal action determined appropriate by the ECC administration.

Security and Access Policies

ECC is open to students, employees, and visitors who have legitimate business to conduct during normal operating hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Monday through Thursday and 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Fridays. During the summer months, ECC operates on an abbreviated schedule. Summer hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:15 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. Any individuals found to be interfering with the educational process or normal business operations or posing any threat whatsoever to students or employees are escorted off-campus.

After normal business hours, community groups may gain access to the Tarboro campus by prior arrangement with the Business Office and to the Rocky Mount campus by arrangement with the office of the Director of the Rocky Mount campus.

Individual Safety Practices

Students should observe individual safety practices by doing the following:

1. Being alert and aware of their surroundings at all times. Their safety depends mostly upon their attitude and actions.
2. Carrying handbags, book bags, or briefcases close to the body.
3. Parking near the last building they will be in for the day or evening.
4. Remembering to lock vehicles.
5. Noting where they parked.
6. When returning to their car, having their keys out and ready.
7. If commuting to school by taxi or being dropped off at school by someone, waiting for the taxi or ride inside the lobby of the building the transportation drives to. If they cannot see approaching vehicles from inside the lobby, they should tell their ride to pick them up in front of the McIntyre Building or the Fleming Building in Tarboro or in front of the Barnes Building in Rocky Mount. In these buildings, they can wait inside the lobby with the receptionist and easily see when their transportation arrives.
8. Checking the back seat and floorboard of their car before getting into it.
9. Avoiding walking alone in the dark and avoiding shortcuts that go through poorly lighted or confined areas.
10. Walking in groups whenever possible.
11. Walking confidently and looking directly at passers-by.
12. Not leaving any belongings (handbag, books, and book bags) unattended.
13. Going to the nearest campus phone and dialing 0 in Tarboro or 320 in Rocky Mount to get the receptionist if any of the following occur:
    1. They see a suspicious person.
    2. They see or have contact with someone behaving in a threatening or unusual manner.
    3. They see people fighting.
    4. They see someone, other than a uniformed law enforcement officer, with a weapon.
    5. Their instincts tell them something is wrong.

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ID Card Policy

Students must have an official college ID badge which should be worn at all times while on campus. At registration, Student ID cards are supplied by the SGA. All students are required to present an ID to use the library resources, access the Print Management System, as well as, attend special SGA sponsored events, and receive discounts from selected area merchants. The activity fee covers the cost of the ID card; however, there is a $5 charge for a replacement card. Student ID cards must be renewed every academic year.

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Alcoholic Beverage, Drug, And Weapons Policy

Alcoholic Beverages

In accordance with North Carolina state law, ECC prohibits the possession, transportation, use, or sale of any alcoholic beverage within the property boundaries of the college. This policy applies to any student or employee of the college or visitor to ECC property. Violators are subject to college disciplinary action, criminal prosecution, fines, and imprisonment. Exceptions include functions prior approved by the college President as authorized by the College Board of Trustees.

Drugs

ECC property has been designated “Drug-Free.” ECC’s Student Conduct policy specifically prohibits the use, possession, sale, or transportation of any controlled substance as defined by the North Carolina General Statutes. Within these statutes is the stipulation that even though a person may be under the influence of “legally prescribed medication,” that person is totally responsible for his or her behavior.

The ECC Employee Handbook contains a “Drug-Free Workplace Policy” statement, an acknowledgment of which is signed by all faculty and staff at their employment. This document is kept in the employees’ personnel files.

Violators of this policy are subject to college disciplinary action, criminal prosecution, fines, and imprisonment.

Weapons

All students, employees, and visitors are prohibited from using or carrying a weapon onto ECC property unless they are uniformed law officers. This prohibition applies to anything that can be construed or used as a weapon, such as firearms, knives, clubs, or stun guns. The ECC Student Conduct policy specifically prohibits the use or possession of weapons and dangerous instruments on college properties as described in the North Carolina General Statutes. Concealed carry permit holders may store a handgun in a lockbox or closed compartment in a locked car in a public parking area on campus, only in compliance with the North Carolina General Statutes. Violators of this policy are subject to college disciplinary action, criminal prosecution, fines, and imprisonment.

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Tobacco-Free Campus Policy

Edgecombe Community College is committed to providing its employees and students with a safe and healthful environment. Edgecombe Community College also recognizes the use of tobacco products on campus grounds is detrimental to the health and safety of students, staff, faculty, and visitors. Edgecombe Community College further acknowledges that it has the legal authority to prohibit tobacco use pursuant to G.S. 143-599.

Therefore, Edgecombe Community College has established the following tobacco-free campus policy, to be implemented on August 1, 2011.

Definition. For the purposes of this policy, tobacco is defined as any type of tobacco product including, but not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, cigarillos, pipes, bidis, hookahs, smokeless or spit tobacco, snuff, electronic or e-cigarettes, liquid nicotine vaporizers, or other vapor delivery systems, or liquid nicotine.

Specifics of Policy. Use of tobacco is prohibited by students, staff, faculty, or visitors

• in all campus buildings, facilities, and vehicles owned by Edgecombe Community College;
• on-campus grounds and property owned by Edgecombe Community College;
• at lectures, conferences, meetings, social and cultural events held on school property or school grounds.

Implementation & Compliance. A campus committee shall develop a plan for communicating the policy to students, staff, faculty, and visitors and will ensure appropriate campus signage.

Smoking waste management products such as ashtrays shall be removed.

Visitors who repeatedly violate the policy shall be asked to leave campus. Employees who repeatedly violate the policy shall be referred to their supervisors and shall be given tobacco cessation materials. Repeated violations by staff or faculty can result in further personnel action.

Enforcement of this policy for students shall include the provision of an oral warning for the first offense and a written one for the second offense. The written warning file shall be filed with the Dean of Students on the Rocky Mount Campus and the Dean of Enrollment on the Tarboro campus. The record shall be purged two years from the date of the incident. If a student is observed in violation of this policy a third time, he/she may be disciplined by the Vice President of Student Services as a violation of the student code of conduct

Opportunities for Cessation. The administration will consult with the county health department and other health organizations to provide faculty, staff, and students with information and access to free programs and services to help abstain from the use of tobacco products.

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Alcohol and Substance Abuse Programs

ECC has developed a program to prevent the illicit use of drugs and the abuse of alcohol by students and employees. The program provides services related to drug use and abuse, including dissemination of informational materials, educational programs, counseling services, referrals, and college disciplinary actions.

ECC’s Student Services Department provides overall coordination of the Drug-Free School Program through various services.

Alcohol and Drug Education

ECC conducts annual alcohol and drug seminar for staff and students. Alcohol and drug educational materials are displayed in Student Services areas.

Counseling Services

Student Services counselors and a Student Support Counselor are available for counseling.

Referral Services

Student Services counselors are located in the department for student referrals.

College Disciplinary Actions

The Vice President of Student Services is responsible for college disciplinary actions.

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Timely Warnings

In the event that a situation arises, either on or off-campus, that constitutes an ongoing or continuing threat to students and employees of the college, a campus-wide “timely warning” is issued through the ECC email system to students, faculty, and staff. The college President or his/her designee makes the decision to issue such a warning, through consultation with members of the College Management Team and the local police department.

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Campus Security and Crime Awareness Report

The Director of Human Resources prepares this report annually to comply with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act. The full text of this report can be found on the ECC Web site at http://www.edgecombe.edu under About ECC > Publications.

Campus crime, arrest, and referral statistics include those reported to designated college officials and campus police.

Each year, an email notification is made to all enrolled students stating that this report has been completed and providing the information needed to access this report online. All employees receive similar notifications. Printed copies of this report may be obtained from the office of the Director of Human Resources.

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Sexual Harassment Policy

ECC prohibits any form of sexual harassment involving any of its employees in the employment relationship or involving any college employee and a student of the college in the college relationship, whether it is in the form of a college employee sexually harassing a student or a student sexually harassing a college employee. The college has a firm belief and has established a policy that all employees are entitled to work and all students are entitled to learn in an environment free of discrimination or intimidation based on sex. Any act, comment, or behavior which is of a sexually suggestive or harassing nature and which in any way interferes with employees’ or students’ performance or creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment is strictly prohibited. Students or employees who feel that they have been subjected to sexual harassment may file a complaint with the Vice President of Student Services. Complaints involving the Vice President of Student Services should be filed with the President.

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